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| Philemon Yang |
Some private media in Cameroon
are refusing to cover the prime minister after he seized a reporter’s equipment
earlier this week. Journalists say they are fed up with government
intimidation, mistreatment and difficulties accessing information.
CRTV reporter Teke Julius was
covering a visit by Prime Minister Philomen Yang to a stadium construction site
when reporters say Yang personally grabbed Julius’ equipment and ordered it
destroyed. Julius was then detained by the police for several
hours.
"Besides the boycott and
blackout on any activity that the PM is present, the PM has to publicly
apologize to all the journalists in Cameroon. What the prime minister did is
total disrespect of journalists in Cameroon. In fact, total
disrespect of the media as a whole," said Eugene Ndi, the public relations
officer of the Cameroon Association of English Newspaper Journalists.